Plett River Lodge

Brendar was friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived. She took care of our laundry when we asked about the service and was accommodating throughout. Laundry is charged per item, which was fine with us. The daily room cleaning was also done without us asking, and it was very good. When we arrived in the evening, the waiters were nice and accommodating, and the food was simple but tasty. The restaurant is highly recommended. We booked Plett River Lodge for our honeymoon after seeing the cottage on Expedia. The photos showed a bright, modern, African-inspired whole cottage with a living room, and we fell for it. Instead, we were shown to a small, dark, worn room that didn't feel inviting. The door wouldn't lock properly, and there was a smell, probably from mold. The bathroom ceiling, wall and tiles were moldy too. When my lamp tipped over, lots of tiny flies fell out. The room needs renovation. The mattress was much too small for the bed, leaving the slatted frame exposed, and a few boards made the construction seem unstable. There was no air conditioning, so the nights were very sweaty, and no fridge to keep drinks cool. We drove to the nearby Checkers, bought a freezer there, and used Crasheis so we could have anything cold during our stay. A small mini fridge would improve the room, and at 130€ a night I expected that. The room wasn't worth the money. Breakfast was listed as included when we booked, but the attached restaurant was closed during our stay. That meant no meals or breakfast, and it would have been good to know in advance. It was a very disappointing surprise.

The atmosphere and the staff were what we loved most. The restaurant has such a relaxing view, and all the food was great. Staying overnight gets you your own balcony over the river, and the rooms are much better than you'd expect for the price. We loved our time there.

March 2020 The photos look like they were taken a long time ago, because the place doesn't look like them now. It really needs a major upgrade, and isn't worth the price. There are no air conditioners, and ventilation is very poor in some rooms, with not even a window to open. Some rooms have a fan and some don't; the same goes for bar fridges, yet the price is the same. A restaurant is advertised, but it isn't open for dinner and only starts serving breakfast at 08:00, with no exceptions. If you don't call ahead, that's the surprise waiting when you arrive.

The views are amazing, and the team is very friendly. The rooms are modern, luxurious and super clean, with quality linen, spacious beds and lots of attention to detail. This is superb accommodation, and I'd definitely recommend it.